and supple beneath his hands. He ached to spread his hand over her creamy stomach, slide it up to cup her rosy pink tipped breast, higher to her elegant throat . . . and squeeze, until she begged him for mercy.
“I see the mayor. Let’s say hello. My family helped get him elected,” she bragged.
“Go ahead, darling. My grandfather is headed this way, something’s on his mind.”
“Patricia, you look lovely this evening, my dear,” his grandfather said, kissing her cheek.
“Thank you, Charles. It’s nice to see you again. Excuse me.” With a pretty smile for his grandfather, she excused herself.
“She’s perfect, David. Beautiful, educated, wealthy, connected. You could do worse.”
“You mean Jenna.”
“You changed when you married her . . . And not for the better. Forget the past. Focus on your future.” His grandfather raised his glass, indicating Patricia across the room. His future, according to his family.
Not according to him. He would get what he wanted. He always did.
Chapter Eighteen
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING Jack sat at the breakfast bar drinking coffee, desperate for the caffeine to jolt his system after another long, restless night, dreaming about Jenna and talking himself out of walking down the hall to her room and crawling into her bed. That argument lasted deep into the night and early morning.
Caleb and Lily came in through the kitchen door. “Uncle Jack. I got to see my pony. She’s brown and white, and she ate a carrot out of my hands.”
“I know your pony is brown and white. I bought her for you, goofy.”
“Where’s the lady?”
“She’s upstairs sleeping with Sally. Stay down here. She’s not feeling well, and she needs to sleep. Morning, Caleb.”
“Morning, Jack. All the crews are working. No problems this morning, except for Blue. He wants to go out for a ride. You’ve had him cooped up for too long. Stubborn horse.”
While they sat in the kitchen discussing the ranch, Lily snuck upstairs. Jack and Caleb realized, too late, Lily escaped. They bolted from the kitchen and reached to top of the stairs in time to see Jenna’s back to the door and Lily next to her. They paused outside the door on the landing, enthralled by the innocent scene in the bedroom.
REST, FOOD, AND the medicine worked wonders in making Jenna feel better. She lay in bed listening to Sally snore and stared across the room to the windows and the trees outside. The beautiful morning bloomed with bright sunlight. Lying on her left side, a little blond head popped up next to the side of the bed.
“I snuck in here. Daddy and Uncle don’t know.”
“I see.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Jenna. Who are you?” Had to be Lily, but she loved the lyrical sound of this tiny nymph’s voice. She couldn’t help smiling at this bright angel of a child.
“I’m Lily Bowden, like the flower. I’m three.”
“Stargazer lilies are my favorite.”
“Like Uncle’s ranch. Stargazer Ranch.”
“So it is. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Can I come up there with you?”
“May I come up there. And yes, you may.”
Lily climbed up and lay down facing Jenna. She put her hands together and tucked them under her cheek. Angel baby, smelling of spring and strawberry shampoo.
“Daddy calls me sunshine sometimes. Mommy’s name is Summer. He says I’m Summer’s sunshine. That’s funny,” she giggled. “Daddy brings mommy flowers he picks in the fields. He puts them in a vase on the table. Then he kisses her.”
“Very romantic. People should always do nice things for others, especially the ones they love.”
“No one brings me flowers. What does the Stargazer look like? Maybe I can find one in the field.”
“I don’t think you’ll find one. Stargazers are a really big lily. They start out closed like this.” Jenna held up her hand, palm up, with her fingertips touching. “Then, they open like a star and inside they are dark pink and they smell really, really good.” She spread her fingers to show Lily how the flower opens.
“Is there a flower shop in town?” Jenna remembered several stores on the main street by the diner, but couldn’t remember what kind. Her arrival in town had become nothing but a blur, except meeting Jack. Him sitting in the booth at the diner showed crystal clear in her mind.
“Yes. Next to mommy’s work. It always smells really good.”
“When I feel better, I’ll go into town and see if they have any Stargazers. If they do, I’ll buy you some, so you can see. Maybe mommy will let you keep them in your room.”